SANDPOINT — After 10 years of fishing at Smith Lake with her husband, A. Lee Harris has formed an unusual bond — not with another couple or a favorite fishing spot, but with a pair of eagles. 

“They’ll come dashing down. Our dog plays with them, they recognize each other, they have wonderful personalities,” the Bonners Ferry artist said of the eagle pairing. “Birds are fabulous.”  

Harris has been fascinated with birds for as long as she can remember. So naturally when she was searching for an idea for her next sculpture, at a King roundabout, and her husband chimed in with the idea of using kingfishers in it, inspiration was born. 

“Their diving method amazes me,” Harris said with a sense of wonder in her voice. “Their unusual beak was in play there, I don’t know if I answered your question, I kind of spaced out thinking about birds.” 

So, Harris, alongside Idaho Weld, got to work crafting and recreating kingfishers diving into the water in the hopes of finding their next meal. Harris said she’s most proud of the visual movement in the piece, capturing the essence of the birds. 

Now, Harris’ “Kingfishers” will reside at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Oak Street for the next year as part of Sandpoint’s Silver Box Art. It’s Harris’ third time being selected as one of the three pieces featured across the city. 

Travel just over a block down to find “Skyward Grace,” a wood carving of a crane walking through water from Sandpoint resident Denny Henson at the intersection Fourth Avenue and Oak Street.   

A fellow Sandpoint resident closes out the trio, with Dave Gonzo’s “Beauty of Duality” on display at Fourth Avenue and Church Street, right in front of the post office. Gonzo’s sculpture features a metallic flower blooming from the base of the box. 

Gonzo’s sculpture was a last-minute addition after artist Kirk See’s “Icosahedron” was not completed in time. Harris said that Sandpoint does work on a shorter time frame than most cities, only calling out for artists a few weeks before the sculptures need to be completed. 

However, Harris said she understands and enjoys the short time frame. She said that working with Sandpoint is always something she enjoys and that they treat artists well. 

This will be the eighth run of silver box art projects, which are funded by the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency’s public art fund. Sandpoint says the goal of the project is to support local artists and enhance the vibrancy of downtown. 

Harris said a friend from her water aerobics class helped her find one of her favorite little details in the piece. Wait for a sunny day, Harris advises, then head over to the sculpture and see if you can catch the glimmer in the kingfishers’ eyes. 

“I learned a lot and I ended up being really happy with Idaho Weld’s work,” Harris said. “I couldn’t ask for a better artistic endeavor.” 

    A. Lee Harris' "Kingfishers" sits on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Oak Street. The sculpture will reside there for the next year as a part of Sandpoint's Silver Box Art Project.
  

    Sandpoint-based artist Dave Gonzo's "Beauty of Duality" on display at Fourth Avenue and Church Street.
  

    Sandpoint resident Denny Henson's "Skyward Grace" sits on display at Fourth Avenue and Oak Street.